Major boost for Dunbar

Dubliner John Mulrooney checks his text messages after helping Darren Clarke win the Open in Sandwich last year. Now he’s trying to steer Alan Dunbar through his first major at Royal Lytham & St Annes.Amateur champion Alan Dunbar has a Major advantage this week - the caddie that helped Darren Clarke win the Open.

Dubliner John Mulrooney played a massive role in Clarke’s emotional win at Sandwich last year.Now Dunbar, 22, is hoping he’ll be his lucky charm at Lytham.

After a practice round with Clarke and Graeme McDowell, the Rathmore ace said: “Having the defending champion’s caddie has been great and we’ve got on well.

“I know the course but it’s still good to have him because I don’t think I’ve ever broken par here in the Lytham Trophy.”

Dunbar wants to win the Silver Medal awarded to the leading amateur and follow in the footsteps of 2007 winner Rory McIlroy.

He said: “It’s just me and the Austrian Manuel Trappel. So it’s something to aim for.

“Obviously I have to make the cut to win it but Graeme and Darren have just told me to go out and enjoy it and play golf.”

The Madness of King Darren

Darren Clarke recovered from a fit of “the madness” to forge a fantastic partnership with his Irish caddie and make his Claret Jug dreams come true.

The Ulsterman teamed up with Bray’s John Mulrooney by pure chance in Mallorca in May and immediately broke his three-year victory drought.

But the pair clashed during the final round Scottish Open at Castle Stuart nine days ago and almost gave each other mutual marching orders before Mulrooney, 42, told Clarke some home truths on the eve of the first round and they became a formidable force.

Clarke parts company with Open caddie

John Mulrooney in the locker room at Royal St George’s shortly after Darren Clarke’s Open victory.Darren Clarke has split with the caddie who helped him beak his major duck and lift the Open at Royal St George’s.

Hoey set for Wild ride

Michael Hoey will play with John Daly and Chad Campbell for the first two days at Royal Lytham. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieMichael Hoey drew an early morning start with “Wild Thing” John Daly in the Open and confessed - I can’t wait.

As Dunbar takes first steps, Chubby pushes Clarke for PGA Tour return

Alan Dunbar hits his tee shot at the 7th in Tuesday’s practice round at Augusta National. Pic via Frank Casey Jnr/rosapenna.ieChubby Chandler might be quietly mapping out the future of British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar but he’s also working hard to give struggling Darren Clarke “a new lease of life” by persuading him to rejoin the PGA Tour next season and avoid the “soul-destroying” grind of the early season European Tour schedule.

Clarke will mentor Dunbar - Chubby

Alan Dunbar in action at Augusta NationalDarren Clarke might have “borrowed” Alan Dunbar’s coach Seamus Duffy but the big Dungannon man will take his Portrush neighbour under his wing when he joins the professional ranks next week.